D.C. approves law to allow licensed students to consume medical marijuana at school

D.C. lawmakers made it clear: Students are permitted to consume medical marijuana on school grounds.

The D.C. Council passed emergency legislation Tuesday to clarify existing city law to ensure schools do not prohibit students with medical marijuana licenses from consuming the substance while on campus.

The D.C. medical marijuana program was expanded to include minors in 2014, with advocates arguing that marijuana is an effective treatment for children with epilepsy. Eight minors in the District currently hold medical marijuana licenses, according to the District’s Department of Health.

Council member David Grosso (I-At Large), who chairs the education committee, said he introduced the emergency legislation to ensure families are not forced to choose between receiving medical treatment and sending their children to school.

“Due to the continued federal criminalization of marijuana, the mayor’s agencies have taken a fairly restrictive approach to medical marijuana out of fear of having the federal government come down hard on our patients, doctors, and medical marijuana businesses,” Grosso said when he introduced the bill Tuesday.

“With the cautious approach, we have often made life harder for those who need treatment,” Grosso said. “That is the reason for this emergency legislation.” [Read more at The Washington Post]